How To Choose The Right Type Of Hiking Tent For You

Hiking tents are getting lighter, which is great news for people who want to get out and explore the great outdoors. Despite our changing society, camping is still popular, and camping equipment is getting more sophisticated. The old style of pole frame tent is gradually being replaced by dome tent models which use updated equipment. You can still buy tents in the old style, though, and these will be better than the old tents because the materials are lighter.

If you are wondering whether to swap from an old style frame tent to something more modern, there are certain facts which need to be considered. Firstly, if you still have a perfectly good working model of a frame tent, you may well want to keep it. There is little point replacing equipment which is perfect working order, unless you can get something substantially better. If you are happy with the weight and bulk of the tent, then there is probably nothing to be gained by spending more money.

If your old hiking tent is now in a sorry state and needs replacing, then you have a harder choice to make. In this case, you have to weigh up your familiarity with the old style of tent against the possibility of making progress. A lot will depend on how easy you have found it to carry and transport your old tent. If you are happy with the style, you may want to stick with it. If not, you now have the chance to try something new, which will definitely be lighter and less bulky.

The one warning which must be given is not to take claims that dome hiking tents can be erected more easily as being gospel truth. In many cases they are, but not in all. The one type of person who should almost certainly choose a modern dome tent is the one who is new to camping. There is little point in teaching a new person how to use technology which has basically been superseded. The modern dome tent is clearly the best backpacking tent, as it has a clear weight and size advantage.

In previous eras, there was nothing else to do but go to the local store and see if they had a tent which suited your purpose. Now, we can go way beyond that. Thanks to the Internet, it is now possible to browse the websites of a great many manufacturers and retailers, all without leaving your living room. It is best to attack the job in stages. Firstly, look to see which type will be the best backpacking tent for you. Then, when you have a basic idea of what you need, you can go back and compare features and prices. It should then be obvious which is your best choice of hiking tent.